SOMETIMES THE BRAND YOU THINK YOU KNOW - IS NOT ALWAYS THE BRAND YOU ACTUALLY KNOW!

Cruelty-free living is easy! I have done all the ground work for you. 

Please don’t turn a blind eye to what is going on in the world when it comes to animal testing. After reading this document you will be educated on how you can help and what products to avoid.

Take a look at the images below that are so familiar to us.  Kimberly Clark use images of puppies to advertise their toilet paper and Procter&Gamble choose cute bears.  Unilever uses a dove to market Dove products – yet these companies test their products on animals!  Shows how advertising actually works!!!!!:

If you would like to take a look at the more realistic images of what these companies represent go to: http:// www.stopanimaltesting.com (NOT for sensitive viewers!)

Animal experiments are not only cruel but also unreliable, dangerous, and bad science. We know that non-animal tests are less expensive and that they are better at protecting human health. The U.S. government's own scientific advisory board, the National Academy of Sciences, has concluded that many animal tests are useless and should largely be replaced by superior non-animal test methods. But even with that recommendation, animal testing continues!

My information was gained from the following animal anti cruelty organizations:

 The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) www.leapingbunny.org.

  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organization in the world.  www.CaringConsumer.com.

  If you see Marley’s purple paw print next to a product - it is a vegan product, and does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.

www.animalrightsafrica.org
www.naturewatch.org
www.stopanimaltesting.com
www.gocrueltyfree.org
www.furisdead.com
www.buav.org

I AVOID: L'Oréal Professional, L'Oréal Paris, Maybelline, Pantene, Max Factor, Covergirl, Johnson&Johnson, Lancome, Clairol, The Body Shop(owned by L'Oréal) , Redken, Shu Uemera, Vicky, Kerestase, Garnier. These are just a few brands!!

As much as I would love to support make-up brands that are 100% cruelty-free – guaranteed! It is almost impossible when it comes to make-up.  For example, Mac, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Revlon, Clinique and Almay claim to be 100% cruelty-free, which in theory they are.  They do not test their final product on animals and have a 5 year rolling rule policy = they refuse to use any ingredients that have been tested on animals for the last 5 years. This means that ingredients tested today, can be used in just five years time.  This policy will not put a total stop to animal testing, but at least these companies are making some effort.  There is much worse – for example, I would love to recommend Max Factor and The Body Shop make-up, however they are owned by L'Oréal Cosmetics – who are not apposed to animal testing and do sell products that have been tested on animals ! L'Oréal Cosmetic has about 25 brands under their umbrella. Such a pity these huge companies don’t make more effort. 

I NEVER purchase a make-up product that is not from a cruelty-free source.  I don’t even temp myself by shopping around. The companies I do support have amazing variety and quality anyway, so I am not missing out.  You could do the same?

My TOP CHOICES in cruelty-free make-up brands are: (Brands marked with a * make it their priority to be 100% committed to cruelty-free)

www.maccosmetics.com  - Mac is a professional range used by make-up artists worldwide.  An Innovative and diverse line with great formulas.
www.bobbibrown.com – Bobbi Brown is a professional range used by make-up artists worldwide.  High quality, up market cosmetics.
www.pmu.co.za – Is also a professional brand used by make-up artists in South Africa and available on line. High quality formulas.
www.barrym.co.uk – Fun, colourful range, well know for loose shimmer shadows.  Available in the U.K. and on line.
www.toofaced.com – Trendy, interesting brand with great formulas. Available worldwide.
www.stilacosmetics.com –  High quality professional brand, available worldwide – fresh, fun image.
* www.afterglowcosmetics.com – Focuses on pure and natural make-up products.  Available in the U.K. and on line.
* www.urbandecay.com – Edgy and diverse make-up brand with high quality formulas.  Available worldwide and on line.
* www.smashbox.com – Stunning high quality make-up brand.  Also popular with make-up artists.  Available worldwide and on line.
If you purchase Smashbox on line, purchase via the PETA Mall website and PETA will receive a percentage of your purchase, at no extras cost to you.
www.petamall.com

Although I aim to recommend professional make-up brands, I have included three cruelty-free commercial make-up brands:
Estee Lauder Cosmetics www.esteelauder.com
Estee Lauder is available in almost every town and city worldwide, making it a perfect choice for my list.
Eyeslipsface Cosmetics (ELF)  www.eyeslipsface.com
ELF is available in the U.K., Sweden, Denmark, Norway and U.S/Canada every product they sell is ONLY one dollar in the US, which is hard for any other brand to beat! 
BrandedJ  www.brandedjcollections.com
BrandedJ is available online and is a fully cruelty free brand. 

Companies who specialise in cruelty-free make-up brushes are:
www.brandedjcollections.com
www.afterglowcosmetics.com
www.smashbox.com
www.eyeslipsface.com (ELF)
www.urbandecay.com
www.toofaced.com

Mac and Stila Cosmetics confirmed that their brushes are from a cruelty-free source. They use real animal hair, which is a by- product (i.e. hair is taken from the underbelly of the goat, the mane/tail of the pony, etc) However, their sable hair brushes I would not imagine come from a cruelty-free source.  Sable hair comes from a weasel-like mammal and is used to make eye makeup, lipstick and eyebrow/eyeliner brushes. It is my understanding that the hair is taken from the tail of these animals., but I do think they are caged because these animals are only live in Russia, Poland, Siberia and Japan.  They are sort after in the fur trade - for art brushes and for this reason I feel the conditions where they are kept must be very unsatisfactory.

Making the change to cruelty-free products takes no effort at all:

I switched my shampoo and conditioner from L'Oréal Professional to Paul Mitchell. www.paulmitchell.com  I also use Max Green Alchemy who produce 100% natural hair products that are cruelty-free www.maxgreenalchemy.com

I buy all my body products on line from amazing companies: Burt’s Bees www.burtsbees.com  and Kiss My Face www.kissmyface.com . Burt’s Bees can be purchased at very good prices from the following website: www.herbalremedies.com
White Rain Products are also natural and cruelty-free www.whiterain.com

My skin care brand is Dermalogica. www.dermalogica.com

I clean my home with vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice which work very well, I also look for non chemical based house hold cleaners.  Health shops in your area are a good place to start to find natural, cruelty-free cleaning products.  Your local super market might also stock these brands – ask around.
Mrs Meyers are natural and cruelty-free cleaning products: www.mrsmeyers.com

I switched my nail care from Sally Hansen to Essie.
www.essie.com   

Personal hygiene products are also easy to replace:
* Cruelty-free razors, shaving cream, wax, mouth wash, toothpaste is all available from www.mothernature.com .
* Tampons, pads and wipes are available from www.naturacare.com  better than the alternative – bleached toxic commercial brands.

If you wear contact lenses there IS a cruelty-free contact lens solution available. www.clearconscience.com . Contact lens solutions are tested on rabbits, this is the affect on their eyes: